Rockabilly queen Imelda dazzles at the Marquee

It’s the sheer energy that gets you. Imelda May multitasks like a real livewire — she lashes out credit to singers and songwriters; she reminisces about childhood picnics; she jokes about clearing up the havoc wrought by her little girl armed with a marker in a hotel room; she struts around the Marquee stage on her extremely high heels like an ultra-glamorous dressage pony — and above all the lady sings.

From her heartfelt It’s Good to be Alive to the sultry Wicked Way Imelda May just delighted the packed Marquee. Her own delight in performing was evident too: she shrieked at the thought of standing on the same stage as Tom Jones a few nights before; and you felt her excitement when the lighting crew illuminated the whole marquee for a few seconds and she could see just how many people were there to hear her.

Imelda classics such as Johnny got a Boom Boom had thousands dancing and singing along and sizzlers such as Hellfire Club made time fly.